US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo plans to visit China “later this summer” despite reports that her email account was hacked by China-based hackers.

In related incidents, Microsoft reported that hackers seeking intelligence information had broken into the email accounts of some US government agencies, including those of Gina Raimondo and the State Department.

Despite this, the Minister of Commerce confirmed that she plans to travel to China soon, and is working on setting the date and plans for the visit.

Raimondo added during an event at the Wilson Center that doing business with China remains essential, and cooperation should be promoted in possible areas and the country’s interests protected when necessary.

Notably, Raimondo was cut off when climate protesters interrupted demanding “clean air and not another billionaire”, but later returned after the protesters had left.